His estranged wife, Lorie Stokes, was admitted to Mary Immaculate Hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the face, but hospital officials would not release her condition Tuesday. Police said the wound did not appear to be life-threatening.

Police have classified the double shooting as an attempted murder and attempted suicide, said police spokeswoman Lynn Pearson.

Both victims were shot once in the head inside the woman's apartment in the 100 block of Windsor Park Drive about 10 p.m., Pearson said. Detectives believe Stokes had become distraught over the separation and had gone to the apartment to try to win her back.

``Indications are that he wanted to get back together but she did not,'' said Sgt. Ron Suttle, a supervisor in the police Major Crimes Unit.

Stokes had been staying with relatives in Gloucester County, police said.

Officers, who were called to Landmark Apartments in response to the shooting, saw Stokes climb into a car in the parking lot, Suttle said. As officers talked to Stokes, who initially refused to leave the car, they saw blood streaming from his head.

When police pulled the wounded Stokes from the car, they found a .38-caliber derringer pistol in a pocket, Suttle said. Police disarmed the man without incident.

It was not known when or where Stokes obtained the handgun.

Inside the apartment, police found Mrs. Stokes conscious and alert, Pearson said. She had been shot in the face. The woman's 2 1/2 year-old son was in another room when the shots were fired, Suttle said. Police could not say where the child was taken after the shooting.

Friends of Mrs. Stokes said the woman had worked as a mail carrier in Williamsburg for about seven years. She left the post office about six months ago.

Mrs. Stokes is originally from New York.

Suttle said Stokes appears to have suffered a serious brain injury, which may preclude police from charging him with attempted murder.